Courts / Kildare / Report

Murder accused's threats showed logical thinking, psychiatrist tells trial

Date
2025-04-03

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Newbridge

County
Kildare

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Mary Davoren testified that Brian Ibe, 23, who is charged with the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, displayed goal‑directed, logical thinking rather than schizophrenia when he threatened and demanded money from Kennedy before fatally assaulting him. Davoren, called by the prosecution, disagreed with the defence psychiatrists who claimed Ibe was in a schizophrenic psychosis at the time of the offence. She noted that Ibe's first disclosure of hearing voices occurred a year and 13 days after remand in Cloverhill Prison and that no evidence of psychosis was present during the murder. Davoren described Ibe's threats as "instrumental" and linked his anger to being asked to leave Kennedy's house in 2019, to loss of social welfare money, and to disgust over the state of the house. She also mentioned that Ibe's aggression may have been reduced by taking Olanzapine, an antipsychotic with a sedative effect. Brian Ibe pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused's threats showed logical thinking, psychiatrist tells trial. Charges or matters: the murder of 65-year-old Peter Kennedy at the deceased's home in Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare; murder by reason of insanity. Procedural stage: trial

When:

April 28, 2020 Incident
May 12 Incident
April 29, 2020 Incident
Christmas Incident
2025-04-03 Publication

Why: She said Mr Ibe had complained that he lost some of his social welfare money because he could no longer attend an educational course in Newbridge and that he felt "disgust" about the state of Mr Kennedy's house. CNI source report

Case subjects

Brian Ibe

Accused

Charges: the murder of 65-year-old Peter Kennedy at the deceased's home in Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare; murder by reason of insanity (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Mary Davoren

Accused

Charges: the murder of 65-year-old Peter Kennedy at the deceased's home in Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare; murder by reason of insanity (Alleged Or Contested)